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The Feynman Lectures on Physics, Volume I

feynmanlectures.caltech.edu

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Re: The Feynman Lectures on Physics, Volume I

#35
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I found it interesting how radically different his teaching premise is from the current U.S. public school approach. From the preface: I thought to address them to the most intelligent in the class and to make sure, if possible, that even the most intelligent student was unable to completely encompass everything that was in the lectures.

If I recall the introduction correctly, the lectures were kindof a failed pedagogical experiment because of this - it worked well for the best students, but the mediocre/worse students did a fair amount worse than in previous years. I don't think Caltech continued to teach the first two years in the Feynman style after this. But regardless, the lecture series is a wonderful overview on the actual physics, even if it…

These lectures are awesome if you have already encountered the material and want to start over from scratch really internalizing it this time. If you use them as a first-time learner you are likely to be pretty confused.

Re: The Feynman Lectures on Physics, Volume I

#37
I'm in the middle of reading "Surely you're joking, Mr. Fenyman!", and so far, it is a FANTASTIC read. He has so many interesting stories about fiddling with stuff as a kid, working on the manhattan project, picking locks, interactions with Oppenheimer, Einstein, etc.

Even if you aren't at all interested in physics, math, or anything science related, I would still recommend this book.

That said, I now have a lot more reading to do. I know almost nothing about physics, and this collection looks like the perfect introduction. I'm going to read it in Mr. Fenyman's voice, and try to have the same curiosity as he did as a kid. Very excited to see this post.

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